Article 1
Establishment of a Special Union;
Adoption of an International Classification

The countries to which this Agreement applies constitute a Special Union and adopt a common classification for the figurative elements of marks (hereinafter designated as “the Classification of Figurative Elements”).

Article 2
Definition and Deposit of the Classification of Figurative Elements

(1)

The Classification of Figurative Elements comprises a list of categories, divisions and sections in which the figurative elements of marks are classified, together with, as the case may be, explanatory notes.

(2)

The Classification of Figurative Elements is contained in one authentic copy, in the English and French languages, signed by the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (hereinafter designated respectively as “the Director General” and “the Organization”) and deposited with him at the time that this Agreement is opened for signature.

(3)

The amendments and additions referred to in Article 5(3)(i) shall also be contained in one authentic copy, in the English and French languages, signed by the Director General and deposited with him.

Article 3
Languages of the Classification of Figurative Elements

(1)

The Classification of Figurative Elements shall be established in the English and French languages, both texts being equally authentic.

(2)

The International Bureau of the Organization (hereinafter designated as “the International Bureau”) shall establish, in consultation with the interested Governments, official texts of the Classification of Figurative Elements in the languages which the Assembly referred to in Article 7 may designate in accordance with paragraph (2)(a)(vi) of that Article.

Article 4
Use of the Classification of Figurative Elements

(1)

Subject to the requirements prescribed by this Agreement, the scope of the Classification of Figurative Elements shall be that attributed to it by each country of the Special Union. In particular, the Classification of Figurative Elements shall not bind the countries of the Special Union in respect of the extent of the protection afforded to the mark.

(2)

The competent Offices of the countries of the Special Union shall have the right to use the Classification of Figurative Elements either as a principal or as a subsidiary system.

(3)

The competent Offices of the countries of the Special Union shall include in the official documents and publications relating to registrations and renewals of marks the numbers of the categories, divisions and sections in which the figurative elements of those marks are to be placed.

(4)

The said numbers shall be preceded by the words “Classification of Figurative Elements” or an abbreviation thereof to be determined by the Committee of Experts referred to in Article 5.

(5)

Any country may, at the time of its signature or of the deposit of its instrument of ratification or accession, declare that it does not undertake to include the numbers of

- 3

all or some of the sections in official documents and publications relating to registrations and renewals of marks.

(6) If any country of the Special Union entrusts the registration of marks to an intergovernmental authority, it shall take all possible measures to ensure that that authority uses the Classification of Figurative Elements in accordance with this Article.

Article 5
Committee of Experts

(1)

A Committee of Experts shall be set up in which each country of the Special Union shall be represented.

(2)

(a) The Director General may, and, if requested by the Committee of Experts, shall, invite countries not members of the Special Union which are members of the Organization or party to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property to be represented by observers at meetings of the Committee of Experts.

(b)

The Director General shall invite intergovernmental organizations specialized in the field of marks, of which at least one of the member countries is party to this Agreement, to be represented by observers at meetings of the Committee of Experts.

(c)

The Director General may, and, if requested by the Committee of Experts, shall, invite representatives of other intergovernmental and international non-governmental organizations to participate in discussions of interest to them.

(3)

The Committee of Experts shall:

(i)

make amendments and additions to the Classification of Figurative Elements;

(ii)

address recommendations to the countries of the Special Union for the purpose of facilitating the use of the Classification of Figurative Elements and promoting its uniform application;

(iii) take all the other measures which, without entailing financial implications for the budget of the Special Union or for the Organization, contribute towards facilitating the application of the Classification of Figurative Elements by developing countries;

(iv)

have the right to establish subcommittees and working groups.

(4)

The Committee of Experts shall adopt its own rules of procedure. The latter shall provide for the possibility of participation in meetings of the subcommittees and working groups of the Committee of Experts by those intergovernmental organizations referred to in paragraph (2)(b) which can make a substantial contribution to the development of the Classification of Figurative Elements.

(5)

Proposals for amendments or additions to the Classification of Figurative Elements may be made by the competent Office of any country of the Special Union, the International Bureau, any intergovernmental organization represented in the Committee of Experts pursuant to paragraph (2)(b) and any country or organization specially invited by the Committee of Experts to submit such proposals. The proposals shall be communicated to the International Bureau, which shall submit them to the members of the Committee of Experts and to the observers not later than two months before the session of the Committee of Experts at which the said proposals are to be considered.

(6)

(a) Each country member of the Committee of Experts shall have one vote.

(b)

The decisions of the Committee of Experts shall require a simple majority of the countries represented and voting.

- 4

(c)

Any decision which is regarded by one-fifth of the countries represented and voting as giving rise to a modification of the basic structure of the Classification of Figurative Elements or as entailing a substantial amount of reclassification shall require a majority of three-fourths of the countries represented and voting.

(d)

Abstentions shall not be considered as votes.

Article 6
Notification, Entry Into Force and Publication
of Amendments and Additions and of Other Decisions

(1)

Every decision of the Committee of Experts concerning the adoption of amendments and additions to the Classification of Figurative Elements, and the recommendations of the Committee of Experts, shall be notified by the International Bureau to the competent Offices of the countries of the Special Union. The amendments and additions shall enter into force six months after the date of dispatch of the notifications.

(2)

The International Bureau shall incorporate in the Classification of Figurative Elements amendments and additions which have entered into force. Announcements of the amendments and additions shall be published in such periodicals as may be designated by the Assembly referred to in Article 7.

Article 7
Assembly of the Special Union

(1)

(a) The Special Union shall have an Assembly consisting of the countries of the Special Union.

(b)

The Government of each country of the Special Union shall be represented by one delegate, who may be assisted by alternate delegates, advisors and experts.

(c)

Any intergovernmental organization referred to in Article 5(2)(b) may be represented by an observer in the meetings of the Assembly, and, if the Assembly so decides, in those of such committees or working groups as may have been established by the Assembly.

(d)

The expenses of each delegation shall be borne by the Government which has appointed it.

(2)

(a) Subject to the provisions of Article 5, the Assembly shall:

(i)

deal with all matters concerning the maintenance and development of the Special Union and the implementation of this Agreement;

(ii)

give directions to the International Bureau concerning the preparation for revision conferences;

(iii) review and approve the reports and activities of the Director General concerning the Special Union, and give him all necessary instructions concerning matters within the competence of the Special Union;

(iv)

determine the program and adopt the biennial budget of the Special Union, and approve its final accounts;

(v)

adopt the financial regulations of the Special Union;

(vi)

decide on the establishment of official texts of the Classification of Figurative Elements in languages other than English and French;

(vii) establish such committees and working groups as it deems appropriate to achieve the objectives of the Special Union;

- 5

(viii) determine, subject to paragraph (1)(c), which countries not members of the Special Union and which intergovernmental and international non-governmental organizations shall be admitted as observers to its meetings, and to those of any committee or working group established by it;

(ix)

take any other appropriate action designed to further the objectives of the Special Union;

(x)

perform such other functions as are appropriate under this Agreement.

(b)

With respect to matters which are of interest also to other Unions administered by the Organization, the Assembly shall make its decision after having heard the advice of the Coordination Committee of the Organization.

(3)

(a) Each country member of the Assembly shall have one vote.

(b)

One-half of the countries members of the Assembly shall constitute a quorum.

(c)

In the absence of the quorum, the Assembly may make decisions but, with the exception of decisions concerning its own procedure, all such decisions shall take effect only if the conditions set forth hereinafter are fulfilled. The International Bureau shall communicate the said decisions to the countries members of the Assembly which were not represented and shall invite them to express in writing their vote or abstention within a period of three months from the date of the communication. If, at the expiration of this period, the number of countries having thus expressed their vote or abstention attains the number of countries which was lacking for attaining the quorum in the session itself, such decisions shall take effect provided that at the same time the required majority still obtains.

(d)

Subject to the provisions of Article 11(2), the decisions of the Assembly shall require two-thirds of the votes cast.

(e)

Abstentions shall not be considered as votes.

(f)

A delegate may represent, and vote in the name of, one country only.

(4)(a) The Assembly shall meet once in every second calendar year in ordinary session upon convocation by the Director General and, in the absence of exceptional circumstances, during the same period and at the same place as the General Assembly of the Organization.

(b)

The Assembly shall meet in extraordinary session upon convocation by the Director General, at the request of one-fourth of the countries members of the Assembly.

(c)

The agenda of each session shall be prepared by the Director General.

(5)

The Assembly shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

Article 8
International Bureau

(1)

(a) Administrative tasks concerning the Special Union shall be performed by the International Bureau.

(b)

In particular, the International Bureau shall prepare the meetings and provide the secretariat of the Assembly, the Committee of Experts and such other committees or working groups as may have been established by the Assembly or the Committee of Experts.

(c)

The Director General shall be the chief executive of the Special Union and shall represent the Special Union.